As soon as several elders settled in the Angel Hall, Ryukyu princes, ministers, and family members came one after another and came to visit them one after another.
Zhao Yanhao felt that Jiang Yuanzhi was better at pretending to be an official than he was. He always asked himself or Lu Yang to accompany him to sit calmly on the boxwood four-headed official hat chair in the center of the Salu Hall, and talked lightly with the people who came to visit.
The Ryukyu officials chatted for a few words, held up their teacups and said something noncommittal, or just laughed, making the other party unpredictable. When the Ryukyu officials finally left home, they still had a confused expression on their faces.
Of course, the elders came to Ryukyu not to show off, they each have their own tasks. So they are not interested in these polite formalities. There is still a lot of work waiting for them. Although Huang Tianyu has already led a staff of naturalized citizens and a ship full of building materials and engineering equipment
The H800 has already gone to Yuntian Port, but there is still a lot of specific organizational work waiting for them to carry out, not to mention that the "Appeasement Embassy" in Naha is also waiting to start construction.
However, since Jiang Yuanzhi would be stationed in Ryukyu in the future, meeting with local officials was also part of his job. So he had to patiently receive waves of Ryukyu officials.
After seeing off a group of guests, while they were talking, they heard the rapid sound of horse hooves in the distance. When everyone looked back, it turned out that the Third Secretary Xiang Heling was coming with his people.
"I'm late, please forgive me." Xiang Heling bowed down with the two young men behind him as soon as he got off his horse.
"Where, where, please get up." Zhao Yanhao quickly smiled and stepped forward to help. Unexpectedly, the old man suddenly said: "National weapon, for national use, I haven't seen you, sir!"
"See you, your Majesty the Envoy of the Kingdom of Heaven! Long live the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the Senate, and a thousand lives for Chairman Wang and other senators!" the two young men said in very poor "Mandarin".
Zhao Yanhao nodded repeatedly. Although the flattery was just that after hearing it too many times, it was still very comfortable to hear. He briefly introduced the new elders, especially Jiang Yuanzhi.
"...This is the Ryukyu pacification envoy Jiang Yuanzhi appointed by the cabinet. This Jiang Yuan is both civil and military, experienced in hundreds of battles, and has many talents in the Song Dynasty. More importantly, he is also proficient in multiple languages.
."
The purpose of Xiang Heling's visit was mainly to build a relationship between Zhao Yanhao and Xin Lai through comfort.
"I've seen Mr. Pacifier!" Xiang Heling hurried over to see him specially and said a load of flattery.
"... I'm afraid I will retire this year. I hope you will give me more support." He added in the end after being polite.
The newly arrived pacifier is equivalent to someone sent by Satsuma to serve in the domain. Various signs indicate that the Satsuma domain is very afraid of the Senate. Clinging to this big tree will ensure your family's future wealth.
Zhao Yanhao whispered a few words to Jiang Yuanzhi. Jiang Yuanzhi heard that this Ryukyu official was not only the current judicial officer, but also the judicial officer of Beishan Kingdom. He knew that future work in Beishan would be inseparable from the assistance of his family.
, immediately expressed his position:
"No problem, as long as we cooperate with each other, the future of the two young masters will be bright."
"Thank you for your comfort, Sir!"
Most of the visits from Ryukyu officials were expected, but what was surprising was Xi'an's visit. This sudden visit by Tong Xingxing was not known for what purpose. So Zhao Yanhao asked Zhou Guosheng, the general manager of the embassy, to bring him
Please come in.
"The poor monk Song Sa communicates with Xi'an and has met all of you," Xi'an said with clasped hands, "I wish all of you the protection of the dragon and heaven, and good luck in the six seasons."
"No courtesy," Zhao Yanhao said with a smile, "I wonder why Xi'an's relatives are here this time?"
"Excellent, how can a poor monk dare to praise me? He was just entrusted by someone to send me a letter and asked you to read it."
"Oh? Then bring it forward." Jiang Yuanzhi continued to put on an air.
"This Australian gentleman doesn't seem to be easy to get along with," Xi'an muttered to himself, then took out the letter from his sleeve and submitted it.
Jiang Yuanzhi unfolded the letter and read it from beginning to end: Although the letter was written in Chinese characters, even one sentence was incomprehensible.
"What the hell?" Jiang Yuanzhi couldn't help but cursed in his heart, but on the surface he remained calm, "Mr. Zhao, take a look at it too." He casually handed the letter to Zhao Yanhao and put it on the back of the chair.
He leaned back and closed his eyes.
Zhao Yanhao took the letter and saw that it was Hou Wen. He couldn't help but feel sad and cursed secretly: Not many Japanese people know this thing now, but they actually kicked the ball to me?
Zhao Yanhao read it several times and thought about it for a long time before he finally understood what it meant. He flicked the letter twice with his middle finger and said, "Do you mean that General Kawakami Sakon wants to visit you during these days?"
"Exactly."
"Since Ryukyu Zaiban is coming to visit, it's not a trivial matter. It's up to Mr. Jiang to decide."
After Jiang Yuanzhi heard Zhao Yanhao's words, he understood the content of the letter. He slowly opened his eyes and said leisurely:
"I wonder what tomorrow will bring?"
"Very good, thank you sir." Xi'an said with his palms clasped.
After learning the result, Xi'an did not want to stay for a long time, so he resigned first. Zhao Yanhao, Jiang Yuanzhi and the others did not insist on staying, so they asked Zhou Guosheng to send him outside the museum.
"I don't want to do that anymore." Zhao Yanhao said helplessly.
"There's nothing I can do. You've finished singing the red face, so I can only sing the white face." Jiang Yuanzhi said helplessly, "If you ask me to scold you, I don't have the confidence, so I have to pretend to be cold."
"I won't freeze you to death!" Zhao Yanhao couldn't help but give him a blank look immediately.
Sure enough, early the next morning, Satsuma Domain's Ryukyu governor Kawakami Tadamichi came to visit him on time. Accompanying him for the visit was the former Yamato yokoume, who was now a naturalized Ryukyu official, Noriyuki Ungamihira.
"This is the commander-in-chief of Zaifan, Sakon Kawakami." Ping Qixiang introduced.
Tadayoshi Kawakami was over fifty years old, with an unattractive face. He was wearing a navy blue haori, with a katana and ribs tied around his waist. As soon as Tadayoshi Kawakami saw the elders and his entourage, he put his hands on
On his knees, he bowed slightly to signal to the four elders sitting in the middle of the Salu Hall. Ping Qixiang on the side made a long bow to show respect.
Ping Qixiang saw that except for Zhao Yanhao who smiled slightly and nodded to them, the remaining "high-ranking officials" from Australia and Song Dynasty had calm faces, and he couldn't help but be full of suspicion: Is this Australian coming to show off his power?
Zhou Guosheng saw that all the elders were silent, so he quickly called the servants, brought out the square stools, and placed them in the middle of the main hall. Since Kawakami Tadashi rarely had the opportunity to sit on the chair, he sat on it very uncomfortable. Ping Qi
Although Xiang didn't usually sit on a chair, he had lived in Ryukyu for decades and had been immersed in it, so he was not surprised. He touched the chair a little and sat on it, showing his respect.
Kawakami Tadamichi spoke first, and Ping Qixiang on the side translated: "Sir Zaifan Fengxing said that since you have recently arrived in Ryukyu, you will be the partners of cooperation. I wish Jiang, Huang and Zhao a happy marriage." May your luck be prosperous, and may your military fortune be long-lasting, Mr. Lu. A small courtesy cannot be regarded as a sign of respect."
Kawakami Tadayoshi took out the gift list from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Guosheng. Zhou Guosheng handed it to Jiang Yuanzhi respectfully. Jiang Yuanzhi looked at it twice and passed it to Zhao Yanhao. They passed it on and looked at it. Zhao Yanhao roughly After looking at it, I saw that they were nothing more than a few clay gold fans, clay silver fans, or paddle fans, which were not particularly valuable items.
This gift is just to ask for directions. The specific purpose is not clear, so it is not a heavy gift. This is a sensible person.
Several elders summed it up in a low voice, and Zhao Yanhao said: "Kawakami has put a lot of effort into implementing it. I have several glass cups here. To express my gratitude, please accept them."
Kawakami Tadamichi immediately expressed his gratitude.
Zhao Yanhao asked: "I wonder if Sichuan has come here to teach me anything? You and I are both guests living here, so we can just talk to each other straight to the point."
Kawakami Tadamichi nodded, and continued to be translated by Taira Keixiang: "The Ryukyu Palace has been financially troubled for a long time. In order to alleviate the financial crisis of Ryukyu, I proposed to the feudal lord to borrow 20,000 kuen from the Ryukyu Palace as a way to expand the Ming Dynasty. It was used as a tribute trade for the Tang Dynasty. However, these Ryukyuan and Kume people were so disgusting that they deliberately paid several times the price to buy silk from the Ming Dynasty, and most of the purchased silk was inferior. Your Highness, the feudal lord, is so kind-hearted. I treat Ryukyu like this, but I don’t want this group of ungrateful people to repay His Highness the feudal lord like this! Therefore, firstly, for the sincere cooperation between Satsuma and Song Dynasty, and secondly, for the Ryukyu people and Kume people to stop committing crimes and harming the interests of Satsuma Domain. I hope you will When your Excellency evaluates trade between Song and Ryukyu, please do not let those Ryukyu people and Kume people deliberately buy inferior things and damage the friendship between Song and Song."
Zhao Yanhao chuckled: "You can rest assured about this, Da Song never produces fake and shoddy products."
Jiang Yuanzhi made a gesture and continued what he said: "What Mr. Zhao said is absolutely true, but as a merchant in the Song Dynasty, what I pay attention to is people-oriented and customer-oriented. As for the price of goods, I also pay attention to it." Just follow the market'. How much money a customer is willing to pay to buy Chinese goods depends on the customer thinking that our goods have this value. Chinese merchants, as sellers, of course respect the opinions of their customers."
"Your country has ennobled Ryukyu as a vassal. As a vassal, I naturally have to obey your country's orders. If you can issue a pardon and order Ryukyu and Kume merchants not to sell goods at high prices, I would be very grateful."
"Oh? Then the noble clan also accepted Ryukyu as its vassal. Why didn't the Satsuma clan lower the price as you wanted, but you said they raised the price instead? If you really think that the Ryukyu people deliberately raised the price, why didn't the Satsuma clan send it in person? People come to pay tribute, what's your opinion?"
Jiang Yuanzhi became more and more confused as he listened, but Zhao Yanhao knew that because the Ryukyu people had been sandwiched between Satsuma and the Ming Dynasty for a long time, both merchants and officials had developed a shrewd and cunning way of dealing with the world. Although they were very soft, they could be as powerful as possible. to protect one's own interests.